Posts Tagged postpartum

Not many of you are aware of my “fitness” situation postpartum, so instead of seeing me as this overly anal pregnant nut who’s severely worried about her after baby fitness: there’s actually a reason I’m like that! Other than because I’m enthusiastic about being fit.

It is mandatory for me to return to work in a year’s time (so next April) and in order for me to keep my job I have to maintain a fitness level. Now, the fitness level I have to maintain really isn’t that big of a deal, run 5.5 on the beep test, 9 pushups and a decent amount of situps, as well as a grip strength. It’s kind of a joke in our job how easy that is, yet it’s amazing how many women can’t do 9 consecutive pushups after a 5.5 minute run, not only that BUT to do that 12 months after having your core ripped out of you almost literally through giving birth.

So, 12 months really isn’t that much time!

It took me 4 months to be able to perform 2 perfect “military” style pushups, so 12 months is going to be a challenge to keep my standard up in terms of performing 9+. Hence the importance of start a training regime asap.

Within the year not only do I need to prepare for my fitness test once getting back to work, but I am also going to participate in a power lifting competition. I want to do something different, and I also want to become more familiar with the major essential exercises in the fitness industry, my coworker is going to guide me in this area and well, it’ll be fun! It will also help me re build my core strength as those functional lifts (dead lift, bench press, squat etc) require a decent amount of core strength!

Now some of you might think that with this mentality I have going on that I’m not even thinking about how awesome the time is going to be with my baby after he/she is born, quite the contrary! I am super excited for this new phase in my life, a little bit anxious but definitely excited. I am excited to meet this new person that God has graciously given my husband and I. I look forward to being able to work out with my child, something a lot of parents don’t realize that they can do. If you have time to go on facebook while you’re at home, you can workout while keeping a good eye on your children at home too.

I already have this idea of my husband doing pushups and the children (a few years down the road!) crawling on top of him for a fun ride while he’s performing his pushups, now THAT is awesome. Makes it more challenging for him and also more fun for the kids! There’s so many ways to incorporate your children into making it a game for them while you’re still getting a workout at the same time. Mind you this can only be done with limited equipment at home. For the serious weight lifters, well, mum and dad will have to do a split shift in order for that to happen!

My point is, it’s all where your priorities lie, if you’re not willing to spend less time on the computer then don’t complain about not being able to workout or lose your post baby fat after the baby is born. Make wise food choices, I’m sure I will be tired as hell after the baby is born, I’m not going to get a straight nights sleep, I’m going to be cranky, but exercise is a stress reliever, doesn’t matter how much or how long, or how intense(or low key) it is, just get’er done!

Check out this site for a few ideas for working out with your children at their different ages:

*hangs head in shame* I’ve been neglecting my blog, I am sorry to all those who were previously enjoying reading my posts!! I’ve had a few people lately mention my blog so I figured since I am now off work, I would start up posting since I have more time… well, until the baby is born at least and then we will see how often I can update!

I am currently 37 weeks along in my pregnancy and I am ashamed to say that I have gained more weight (wayyy moooore) than I am “supposed” to or would have liked to. When looking back I was doing good in the 2nd trimester for weight, and then towards the end (so around Christmas) my energy took a HUGE dip, and well because it was Christmas, I definitely gained quite a bit, which at the time I didn’t really think about. I mean, I wasn’t weighing myself at home because that’s terrifying and I honestly didn’t want to get stuck on a number (I’ve had issues with that in the past). And now I am dealing with the consequences.

I have a ton of stretch marks, which I think have been more numerous due to my extra weight gain (but hey, some women just get a ton anyways, we are the chosen ones?), and my legs are SOO huge it’s unreal, I don’t even like touching my knees because I feel the fat around them. Paul says I’m too negative and I shouldn’t be thinking about that. I mean, my blood pressure has stayed normal: 110/60, and I haven’t developed gestational diabetes or anything like that. I have had zero complications during this pregnancy, no major side effects like puking or anything, so what do I have to complain about? Baby is perfectly healthy so really I guess I’m just being selfish. *slap’s wrist*

On another note, post baby training is looming ahead of me (in a good way!) When the doctor weighed me last week I almost had a meltdown and changed the way I was eating, I became much more strict with myself (no, I’m not starving my baby), and started to think a bit more (even though I’ve already thought about my training after baby very thoroughly!) about how and what I am going to be able to do and how soon after etc. etc.

I can’t really predict when I’m going to be able to start training, I’d like to be able to start a week after, it really depends on whether I have a natural vaginal delivery or a c-section, if baby is all healthy and I do have a natural delivery then I plan on starting roughly a week after. I know, I know, the medical profession says you can’t or should not exercise after giving birth for 4-6 weeks after the baby is born, but um…. walking? Pelvic floor exercises? Very light light weights, I mean, the baby weighs a good amount of pounds, how about some endurance reps with light weight? Coming from a somewhat trained body, and just in this last trimester not being able to lift weights has been KILLING MEEEE!!!!!!

So, needless to say, at this point, I want the baby out of me so I can go for a jog, right now I would jog, except I’m pretty sure my hips would seize up and then my pelvis wouldn’t be as open to deliver the baby, so that would be a stupid decision. However, that doesn’t stop me from thinking about it about 3 times a day. I’m the type of person who gets VERY claustrophobic when I get overweight, I have been really good up until this point of not really worrying about it, but now I’m cracking that whip on myself, once this baby is here, every time I look in that mirror, I’m gonna tackle my ass like there’s no tomorrow, Deadlifts, lunges and squats and I are gonna be SO tight you won’t hear me talk about anything else!

This my friends, is my weapon of choice after the baby is born. I haven’t gotten it yet due to tight finances, but trust me, in the next few weeks I’m sure I’ll have a picture of it up on my blog about how excited I am that I have it!!

I have chosen the TRX because I know for the first 4-6 weeks post postpartum I will not want to leave my baby’s side, which means working out at home to amuse my baby. Not only that but I am gonna attack my core like no tomorrow because that is the most abused part of my body going through pregnancy. In addition to that, I have had previous back issues and I do not want to let them get a hold of me or get worse as a result of pregnancy. The TRX is perfect for the core, it utilizes it in Every.Single.Exercise. Shazamm!!!! It’s gonna be hard at the beginning, and I know I am going to compare my lack of strength to the strength I had pre pregnancy, but thank goodness for MUSCLE MEMORY!! Whew. Just typing all of this up is making me ridiculously excited.

I am going to be working on my resume this week because also after 6 weeks post postpartum I am volunteering at the closest Goodlife to teach spin classes (1x/week) cause I want to keep myself liable and um, I need more experience teaching spin, I love spin to death, it’s really a shame, I get way too excited teaching the classes, already I’m putting music together thinking it would be great for x y z exercise on the bike. WHEEE!! So hopefully they won’t say no to a volunteer crazy enthused postpartum spin instructor mummy?!

Spring is also upon arrival, which is giving me CRAZY excitement to workout, my husband is also crazy excited because he hates working out at a gym (how weird is that? I LOVE gyms!) so he’s excited to workout with me at home, he’s excited to learn from me, so that’s great! He will also keep me liable because he’s gonna want to learn and get rid of his pregnancy flab (I call it that because he’s gained a bit of weight while I’ve been pregnant too! LOL, stupid cravings).

I mean, even if it does rain half the spring time, I’m loading up on those rain covers for strollers cause I have a rain suit, and yeah, the baby is coming with me outside in the rain, for a walk or a jog.

Regarding nutrition, I had forgotten I had mentioned nutrition above and that I had recently changed the way I was eating. Well, I’ve cut out peanut butter (which I was not eating a whole lot of before but probably more than i should), switched to almond butter, or I’m going to make my own chia butter soon. I’ve also cut out butter (was having that kind of regularly on bread and such). Cut out baking fun gluten free goods: chocolate banana chunk muffins with peanut butter icing?!! Who does that!?! Me… d’oh, amongst other things like carrot cake, gluten free biscuits, chocolate cake, blah blah. Things I shouldn’t be eating, well no more am I making them. I’m glad I had the experience so now when company does come over I know I can make them, but yeah, not helpful to my waistline pregnant or not pregnant.

I’ve incorporated a spinach smoothie into my regular daily intake of vegetables, it’s so easy and so flipping yummy I don’t know why I didn’t take it earlier. I’ve also been eating a salad as one of my main meals, with some protein and fibre (flax, or brown rice or quinoa), makes me feel psychologically better about myself. In my other main meals I’ve downsized my portion of starchy carbs I’ve been eating to roughly 1/4 cup and the rest is vegetables and protein.

For snacks I’ve been having a fibre (buckwheat bread or gluten free cereal) mixed with a protein (goat yogurt or tofu mousse) and some fruit. I’ve also been limiting the amount of fruit I’m eating, just because fruit has a higher glycemic index and right now I’m trying to regulate my blood sugar as much as possible. I am thinking of possibly getting some protein this week so I can incorporate those into my yogurts and mousse because right now… I’m STILL not getting enough protein (crazy) as my baby is getting to the final stages of entrance into the world. And also because eating so many times through the day is really really hard and I’m running out of ideas so I want items that hold me a bit better. I’m used to eating roughly 5-6 times, but lately it’s been 7-8-9 and looking at my food journal kills me to see that I’ve been eating so much!

Oh, yeah, food journal, EXCELLENT way of keeping track of your eating, it’s helped me huge to see how many vegetables I’ve been having and how many servings of what I call “sugar” so I don’t eat to much of that awful addicting stuff, and also my starchy carbs. It also helps me see how much water I have taken in, whether i need to take in more, etc.

I’ve been writing this post for over an hour, I think I will stop. I mean I can’t share all the goodness all at once?!! Tomorrow I will talk more about… my periodized plan for postpartum training!!

Have a good day everyone while I go outside and try to walk for a decent amount of time: aka waddle around till my hips and bladder can no longer handle it.